---

Dept for Work and Pensions;Child Support Agency

Answer

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost of processing a CSA application has been in each year since its creation; and if he will make a statement on the results of the operational readiness review conducted in September and October into the modernisation of payments programme. [83711] Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member. Letter from Mr. Doug. Smith to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated December 2002: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from me. You ask what the average cost of processing a CSA application has been in each year since its creation and also, if the Secretary of State will make a statement on the results of the operational readiness review conducted in September and October into the .modernisation of payments programme. We do not have the average cost of processing a Child Support Agency application prior to 1999-2000. However, I have attached the details from that date to the present. £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. At 31 March Average cost per case 2000 77.65 2001 97.44 2002 84.48 2002 (to October) 90.28 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The cost per case has been calculated on the basis of the average number of staff employed on processing cases to assessment and the number of cases cleared in each of the years stated. The cost per case fluctuates due to corresponding changes in the quantity of cases cleared; the number of cases cleared changes in accordance with the Agency's operational priorities. The Payment Modernisation Programme has advised that the gated review process within the Department allows for a number of formal reviews. The Payment Modernisation Programme successfully navigated through the Operational Readiness Review gate during September and October. This enabled the Programme to commence the first phase in the move towards Direct Payment, including mailings sent to Veterans Agency customers from 7 October and Child Benefit customers from 28 October 2002.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

83711; 396 c852-3W;396 c849-50W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Children Applications Costs Child Support Agency Maintenance Modernisation Per capita costs

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk